Water & Sewer District Engineer

Hernando County, Florida BOCC; Brooksville (FL); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Hernando County Utilities Department seeks a licensed professional engineer to provide expert services across water and wastewater facilities, supporting planning, permitting, and construction activities.

The role involves coordinating with consultants, regulators, and public stakeholders, ensuring projects meet quality and safety standards while advancing capital improvement initiatives and securing funding.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental, or related engineering field.
• Five (5) years of experience as an engineer in water and/or wastewater utilities.
• Professional Engineering certification from the state of Florida or reciprocal.
• Valid Florida Driver’s License and be insurable by current insurance carrier.
• Complete necessary certifications for NIMS compliance.

Responsibilities

• Plans, reviews, and coordinates utilities studies, reports, plans, specifications, and other documents including groundwater and soils analyses and permit applications.
• Represents the department before public, governmental and private assemblies and meetings.
• Develops Capital Improvement Projects with the Capital Program Manager and budget.
• Provides design and construction phase engineering services for water and wastewater facilities.
• Reviews and prepares recommendations regarding pay requests, change orders, and plan deviations.
• Develops contract documents for county projects and coordinates with funding sources.
• Coordinates with the Capital Program Manager and Chief Financial Officer in securing grants, loans and bonds.
• Stays abreast of rules, regulations and technology to ensure compliance.

Skills

Diplomatic communication

On-time delivery

Budget management

Independent work

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental, or related engineering field

Job description

The purpose of the position is to provide professional engineering services to all divisions of the Hernando County Utilities Department, exhibiting strong practical engineering knowledge as it relates to water and wastewater engineering. The following statements describe the principal functions of this job and its scope of responsibility but shall not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned, including working in other functional areas to cover absences or relief, to equalize peak work periods, or otherwise to balance the workload.

• Plans, reviews, and coordinates utilities internal and consultant studies, reports, plans, specifications, and other documents. This includes, but not limited to groundwater studies, monitor well studies, soils analysis, and water, wastewater facility permitting and construction projects - working as required with consultants, regulatory agencies, other governmental agencies and/or the public.
• Prepares and professionally seals, as required, department plans, specifications and permit applications for existing and new water and wastewater facilities.
• Represents the department before public, governmental and private assemblies and meetings.
• Works with the Capital Program Manager to develop long and short term Capital Improvement Projects and budget.
• Provides design and construction phase engineering services for utilities projects (water, and wastewater) ensuring safety, materials suitability, and quality of workmanship.
• Reviews and prepares recommendations regarding periodic pay requests, change orders, and plan deviations for utilities engineering projects.
• Develops or coordinates the development of contract documents including plans, specifications, cost estimates, etc. for submittal in obtaining government loans and grants.
• Enforces contract requirements and specifications for projects.

• Prepares requests for professional services and negotiates consultant contracts, scopes of services, and fees.
• Prepares or coordinates complex technical documents, studies, reports and applications pertaining to planning, construction and permitting of water, wastewater, and reclaimed water facilities.
• Provides technical assistance to department staff for environmental impacts and assessments and the testing of water, wastewater, groundwater, sludge, and soils; and the interpretation and explanation of test results.
• Provides technical assistance to staff in troubleshooting operational and maintenance problems, providing timely and feasible recommendations for corrective action.
• Establishes and maintains good working relationships as well as meets with local, state and federal agencies to resolve permitting problems.
• Develops, updates, and maintains masterplans for the County’s water, wastewater, and reclaimed water systems.
• Prepares or coordinates contract documents for county projects and determines the cost of construction.
• Coordinates with the Capital Program Manager and Chief Financial Officer in securing grants, loans and bonds.
• Coordinates engineering requirements for obtaining state and local construction and operating permits.
• Stays abreast of latest rules, regulations and technology. Ensures the Water and Sewer District’s Construction Specifications Manual is within current engineering standards.

Emergency Response

County employees are required to report for work during a state of emergency and are subject to recall around the clock for emergency response operations which may include duties other than those specified in this job description.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental, or related engineering field.

Experience

Five (5) years of experience as an engineer in water and/or wastewater utilities.

Skills

Ability to keep projects on time, on budget and constructed within specifications. Communicate diplomatically with employees, officials and the public.

Licenses, Certifications or Registrations

• Professional Engineering certification from the state of Florida or the ability to obtain within six (6) months by having certification in a state that has a reciprocal licensing agreement with Florida.
• Must possess and maintain a valid Florida Driver’s License and be insurable by current insurance carrier.

• Complete necessary certifications for NIMS compliance.

Required Competencies

• Knowledge of engineering practices and principles related to construction, operation and maintenance of water, wastewater and reclaimed water facilities.
• Knowledge of water production, storage and distribution and wastewater collection, treatment and disposal practices.
• Knowledge of hydrogeology as it pertains to Florida.
• Knowledge of laboratory procedures and sampling techniques.
• Knowledge of state and federal rules and regulations pertaining to water and wastewater facilities.
• Knowledge of current computer and technological developments in water, wastewater, and reclaimed water applications, including facilities mapping, CADD and GIS applications.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, and to prepare accurate and concise reports and letters.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to prepare complex, written studies, plans, correspondence, and reports, both timely and accurate.
• Ability to read and comprehend detailed plans and engineering documents.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with engineers, contractors, developers and county staff.
• Ability to use sound judgment at all times.

Physical Demands

• Use of fingers, good near vision, use of depth perception, good hearing (without hearing aid), walking and standing (during field inspections).

Environmental Conditions

• Working inside and closely with others in dry conditions.

Pay Grade: 15

*****Veterans Preference Position, must be minimally qualified*****

Hernando County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, gender, orientation, national origin, age, marital status, veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy, disability, or any other protected characteristic as defined by law.

Hernando County is a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to drug testing in accordance with Federal and Florida State Law.

Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must provide notification to the BOCC in advance to allow sufficient time to provide an accommodation.